With both their health care professionals and their operational staff, the Comprehensive Rural Care Collaborative Model has established a team environment that embraces innovation, change, and flexibility.
Individual staff members have the freedom to innovate, write grants, and design new ways of effectively delivering services, and Minnie Hamilton Health System (MHHS) hires only new staff members who are comfortable with an environment of change.
In addition, health care professions act in many different roles, as needed for high quality care provision in the county. Nurses assist in critical care transport, primary care providers make house calls, and a physician’s assistant assists in the emergency department. Nursing, in particular, plays an integral role in MHHS’s provision of services; the model staffs four family nurse practitioners, 22 RNs and 20 LPNs.
The Comprehensive Rural Care Collaborative Model provides comprehensive primary and preventive health services to residents of its community. The model bases its service provision on the specific needs of the community. Specific services provided include primary care, hospitalization, long-term care, school-based health, oral health, laboratory services, emergency medical services, critical care transport, physical therapy, radiology, pharmacy, child day care and social services.
An example of how the care model has responded to community need is the move to start an emergency transport service to ensure ready access to transport. Initially, MHHS used HealthNet for flying individuals between facilities when possible, but this service was not sufficient. So MHHS pursued and received grant funds and trained 6 CCTs who are that critical link.
For stroke patients, the Comprehensive Rural Care Collaborative Model started the “Gap in the Mountain” program. The program helps patients with congestive heart failure to promote education and purchase necessary medical equipment to help improve patient quality of life.
MHHS also participates in the federal initiatives for Health Disparities Collaborative. Current areas of focus are diabetes, depression, and cardiovascular care. The program helps develop practices changes to improve patient outcomes.
MHHS has developed several outreach programs and activities including: Community Wellness Program, Minnie’s Five – Four Life; employee wellness programs; Chronic Disease Treatment and Prevention Coalition; Women First; Tobacco Prevention coalition; Family Resource Network; Head Up; Quality for Life; Colon Awareness Program; Diabetes Support Group; Chronic Disease Support Group; Health Truth Awareness; Freedom from Smoking Classes and others.
In 1996, MHHS deployed telemedicine technology with the University of West Virginia, a tertiary referral center 90 miles away, and Charleston Medical Center, a tertiary referral center 75 miles away. MHHS uses this technology for dermatology, orthopedic, and psychiatry consults. They also utilize this technology for medical education and staff development.
In addition, MHHS uses digitized radiology films and remote radiology consults with radiologists in Maryland and Australia, who can provide real-time feedback on films.
